Center high mounted stop light

Abstract

A center high mounted stop light assembly for use in a vehicle includes a stop light housing movable in a passage located center high on a rear end of the vehicle between a first closed position and a second extended position in which utility lights coupled to the stop light housing are deployable and operable to illuminate an area near the rear end of the vehicle. A position sensor detects and signals the position of the stop light housing within the passage. The stop light housing may be manually operated between the open and closed position or may use an automated device for push button operation including of the utility lights.

The invention claimed is:  
     
       1. A stop light assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 a stop light housing mountable on a rear end of the vehicle in a passage, the stop light housing and the passage located entirely above a vehicle rear window; 
 an outer lens cover coupled to the stop light housing; 
 a latch configured to selectively couple the stop light housing to the passage so that when the latch is actuated, the stop light housing moves between a first closed position and a second position, the second position including the stop light housing projecting out from the passage; 
 an actuator coupled to the latch, the actuator configured to actuate the latch between a latched position and an unlatched position, the actuator coupled to the stop light housing; 
 a utility light coupled to the stop light housing wherein the utility light is non-operational when the stop light housing is in the first closed position and the utility light is operational when the stop light housing is in the second position and the utility light is configured to illuminate an area adjacent the vehicle; and 
 a sensor configured to determine the position of the stop light housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The stop light assembly of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is configured to send a signal to the vehicle indicating the stop light housing is in the second position. 
     
     
       3. The stop light assembly of  claim 2  wherein the utility light extends from the stop light housing when the stop light housing is in the second position. 
     
     
       4. The stop light assembly of  claim 3  further comprising a biasing member for extending the utility light from the stop light housing as the stop light housing moves to the second position. 
     
     
       5. The stop light assembly of  claim 3  further comprising a biasing member for extending the utility light from the stop light housing and wherein the utility light is automatically turned on as the stop light housing moves to the second position. 
     
     
       6. The stop light assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a biasing member for automatically extending the utility light from the stop light housing and wherein the utility light is automatically turned on as the stop light housing moves to the second position. 
     
     
       7. The stop light assembly of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle is inoperable when the stop light housing is in the second position. 
     
     
       8. The stop light assembly of  claim 1  wherein the utility light is automatically turned off when the stop light housing is moved to the first closed position. 
     
     
       9. A center high mounted stop light assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 a stop light housing mountable center high on a rear end of the vehicle in a passage, the stop light housing and the passage located entirely above a vehicle rear window; 
 an outer lens cover coupled to the stop light housing; 
 a latch configured to retain the stop light housing in the passage in the vehicle and configured to couple the stop light housing to the passage in the vehicle so that when the latch is actuated, the stop light housing moves from a first closed position toward a second position along a linear path of motion, the second position including the stop light housing linearly extended from the passage; 
 an actuator coupled to the latch, the actuator configured to actuate the latch between a latched position and an unlatched position, the actuator coupled proximal the stop light housing; and 
 a utility light coupled to the stop light housing wherein the utility light is non-operational when the stop light housing is in the first closed position and the utility light is operational when the stop light housing is in the second position and the utility light is configured to illuminate an area adjacent the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       10. The center high mounted stop light assembly of  claim 9  wherein the vehicle is inoperable when the stop light housing is in the second position. 
     
     
       11. The center high mounted stop light assembly of  claim 9  wherein the utility light is configured to rotate within the stop light housing to illuminate different areas without moving the vehicle. 
     
     
       12. The center high mounted stop light assembly of  claim 9  wherein the utility light extends from the stop light housing when the stop light housing is in the second position. 
     
     
       13. The center high mounted stop light assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a biasing member for extending the utility light from the stop light housing as the stop light housing moves to the second position. 
     
     
       14. The center high mounted stop light assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a biasing member for extending the utility light from the stop light housing and wherein the utility light is automatically turned on as the stop light housing moves to the second position. 
     
     
       15. A center high mounted stop light assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
 a stop light housing mountable center high on a rear end of the vehicle in a passage, the stop light housing and the passage located entirely above a vehicle rear window; 
 an outer lens cover coupled to the stop light housing; 
 an automated mechanism for moving the stop light housing within the passage in the vehicle between a first closed position and a second position along a linear path of motion, the second position including the stop light housing linearly extended from the passage; 
 an actuator coupled to automated mechanism configured to selectively operate the automated mechanism, the actuator for being coupled to the vehicle; and 
 a utility light coupled to the stop light housing wherein the utility light is non-operational when the stop light housing is in the first closed position and the utility light is operational when the stop light housing is in the second position and the utility light is configured to illuminate an external area of the vehicle. 
 
     
     
       16. The center high mounted stop light assembly of  claim 15  wherein the actuator is located proximal the outer lens cover. 
     
     
       17. The center high mounted stop light assembly of  claim 15  wherein the actuator is located inside the interior of the vehicle. 
     
     
       18. The center high mounted stop light assembly of  claim 17  wherein the actuator is located proximal the driver's seat of the vehicle. 
     
     
       19. The stop light assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a vehicle rear door remains closed when the stop light housing is in the second position. 
     
     
       20. The center high mounted stop light assembly of  claim 9 , wherein a vehicle rear door remains closed when the stop light housing is in the second position.